Jesus Continues to Heal through Sacrament

Introduction

Jesus as Healer is a strong image in the gospels. We know His
image as Teacher through scripture passages like the Sermon on
the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and His image of Good Shepherd in John
10:1-42. But the image of Jesus as Healer can be found in many
parts of the gospels. His healing ministry did not involve only
physical healing; it also involved moral healing - such as the
conversion of Zacchaeus the tax collector.

Jesus heals us through the Sacraments

Jesus continues His healing ministry through the Church by means
of the Sacraments. Sickness and sin are everyday realities in
life we all have to face - personally, or members of our family.
We go to the doctor not only because he specializes in the
science of healing, but because he is also established by God
for this very purpose (Sirach 38:1-14). What completes the
healing process we obtain from the doctor's treatment, is the
healing action of Christ in the Sacraments.

The Sunday Eucharist

The Sunday Eucharist is a source of healing - for body, mind,
spirit and relationships. When the priest begins the communion
rite with the words - "This is the Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world...happy are those who are called to His
Supper," all of us respond with, "Lord, I am not worthy to
receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed." This
healing action we receive every Sunday, is also the material by
which we can praise and thank God in the next Sunday Eucharists
- gratefully thanking Him for healing our ills.

Confession

Part of the journey towards healing is a General Confession of
our sins. St. Ignatius of Loyola advises this in his book, "The
Spiritual Exercises", and St. Francis de Sales also advises this
in his book, "Introduction to the Devout Life". What could help
in making a General Confession is to consider this question to
ourselves well: "What serious sins would I need to confess if
I were already at the throes of death?" After this General
Confession, then we can continue to receive the sacrament more
regularly to strengthen us morally against the daily onslaughts
of temptations to evil and sin.

Physical and moral healing

Confession and the Eucharist are the Sacraments we can receive
regularly. The healing power of Christ is present in these
two Sacraments. Christ's healing presence is also found in the
Blessed Sacrament. A visit to the adoration chapel for about
30 minutes can help set things right for anyone who is very
"tired, tempted and troubled" in the daily grind of work.
Very active people are like glass jars with water and soil that
are shaken with violent motion. If these glass jars were made to
be still in one spot, then the soil will eventually settle at
the bottom of the jar, and the water will be clearer. The longer
the glass jar is made still, the clearer the water will be.

Summary

As we read and pray the gospels, we obtain consolations and a
sense of well-being when we believe that Jesus came, and became
Word Incarnate to save us from sickness, sin and eternal death.
But we will derive even more the full benefit of God's healing
word and action through the Sacraments of Confession and the
Eucharist. The image of Jesus as Healer is very important for
our present generation. Because of the deadly stress our
generation is faced with from all directions (political, social,
economic, environmental), we need Jesus in the Sacrament more
for our time.